to provide high performance computing platforms, sophisticated and high capacity data management and superior service for premium climate science.

The German Climate Computing Center (Deutsches Klimarechenzentrum, DKRZ) is a central service center for German climate and earth system research. Its high performance computers, data storage and services form the central research infrastructure for simulation-based climate science in Germany.

Apart from providing computing power, data storage capacity and technical support for models and simulations in climate research, DKRZ offers its scientific users an extensive portfolio of tailor-made services. It maintains and develops application software relevant to climate research and supports its users in matters of data processing. Finally, DKRZ also participates in national and international joint projects and cooperations with the aim of improving the infrastructure for climate modeling.

DKRZ was founded on November 11, 1987 and took up its services on January 1, 1988. Itisanon-profitand non-commerciallimited companywithfourshareholders:

The Max Planck Society

The Freie und Hansestadt Hamburg, represented by the University of Hamburg

The Alfred Wegener Institute - Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research

and the Helmholtz Zentrum Geesthacht - Centre for Materials and Coastal Research (HZG)

Moreover, DKRZ is sponsored by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research and the The Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres.

DKRZ provides its resources (computing time, hard-drive storage and archive capacity, consultancy and visualizations) free of charge. Any scientists conducting research in the field of climate and earth system science in Germany, and requiring HPC resources for their work may apply for resources at DKRZ.